The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, received the delegation of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ASAN), with whom he examined the ongoing successful cooperation between the State Agency and ICESCO in relevant areas.
During the meeting, held at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat, the two parties discussed the acceleration of smart services in creative industries, which has become an interesting strategic sector to boost competitiveness, productivity, employment, and sustainable economic growth.
The meeting also touched upon creative industries, which are increasingly being utilized to promote social innovation, cultural diversity, as well as a main pillar of the 4th industrial revolution.
ASAN’s delegation gave a detailed presentation on the wide range of services and projects provided by the State Agency.
The
Science and Technology Sector of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has launched the second edition of a youth
training program on setting up and developing start-ups in the field of
technology and innovation in the Republic of Kazakhstan. This edition is
implemented by ICESCO in partnership with the Ministry of Culture of the
Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani National Commission for Education,
Science and Culture, the “MOST” Business Incubator, and the “New Space
Innovation” foundation. The first edition was launched last week
in the Republic of Azerbaijan.
The
program, which benefits ten ICESCO Member States, includes a two-day training
camp and intensive coursework lasting between four to six weeks to put into
practice the training received by the participants to start up their projects.
At the
start of the second edition, which kicked off today, Monday, 20 September 2021,
via videoconference, Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at ICESCO Science and
Technology Sector, explained that the program aims at enhancing the skills of
young people in the Islamic world, through the development of pioneering and
innovative youth businesses in the field of technology, and promoting
investment in human capital in science and entrepreneurship. He noted the great
success of the first edition of the program in Baku, Azerbaijan, during the
past week.
For his
part, Mr. Alim Khamitov, CEO of the “MOST” Business Incubator,
stressed the importance of ICESCO’s training program in creating a work
environment that encourages the youth of the Islamic World to be creative and
innovative, hone their talents and enhance their ambitions.
In his
speech, Mr. Ramil Abbakirov from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of
Azerbaijan commended ICESCO’s initiative, praising the role of youth in
creating and leading positive change in the world.
The
program aims to support the creative economy in the Islamic World, promote
technology startups, and launch more than 150 companies by the end of 2025.
Under this program, a special jury will select the best three teams from each
country to participate in the final stage, present their project ideas to several
donors and investors, and obtain the necessary funding for their
implementation.
Dr.
Abdelilah Benarfa, Deputy Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), is participating in
the 21st Session of Sharjah International Narrator Forum that
Sharjah Institute for Heritage holds under the slogan “Animal Stories”, under the
patronage and with the participation of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin
Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, on
September 22-30, 2021, to honor storytellers and bearers of oral heritage.
ICESCO
Deputy DG will present a paper at the opening session of the forum on
“Institutional efforts to protect living human treasures.”
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countries and many international organizations, cultural centers, universities
and heritage institutes are taking part in the forum, which includes a variety
of workshops on traditional doll-making, storyteller, decorating pens and pencils,
folding paper into animal shapes with wool threads, plaster coloring,
recycling, drawing animals with numbers, drawing with colors, pencils, and
charcoal.
The
Forum’s program features various lectures, seminars, discussions and a cultural
café, which will tackle the art of miniatures in the Islamic civilization,
animal tongues in the Arabic novel, animals in the narratives of ancient Egypt,
and animal stories in the Arab and world heritage.
Sudan will
be the guest of honor of the forum, which will honor some figures. Thirty works
on animal folk tales and stories related will be published, and a special
exhibition will be organized on animal stories in the Emirati, Arab and world
heritage.
The
headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (ICESCO) hosts the two-day meeting of ICESCO’s Financial Control
Committee (FCC), which kicked off on Monday, September 20, 2021, to examine the
Organization’s financial report and closing accounts for the year 2020, the FCC
Draft Rules of Procedure and the report of the auditing company for the year
2020.
Mr. Yussuf
Ali Al-Najar, representative of the State of Kuwait, FCC Chairman, chaired the
meeting, which brought Mr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Alabdulkarim, representative
of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, FCC Rapporteur, and Mr. El Hadji Habib Kébé,
representative of the Republic of Senegal, member of the Committee. Mr. Araz Baghirli,
representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan, joined the meeting via videoconference
along with the representative of Malaysia, as they could not travel to the
Kingdom of Morocco due to the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the
beginning of the meeting, Dr. Salim AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG),
delivered a speech wherein he welcomed the FCC members, stressing that the Organization’s
General Directorate adopts transparency and credibility while reviewing the
measures taken about the financial matters and the Organization’s accounting system.
He noted
that ICESCO, despite the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, has sustained
its programs in many Member States, launched several initiatives, organized a
series of competitions, held forums with high-level attendance of scientists and
distinguished international figures, and signed agreements that contribute to
the development of the Organization’s action.
ICESCO DG
concluded his speech by wishing success to the members of the Committee, before
leaving the floor to the Committee to continue its meeting with the officials
concerned at ICESCO.
For his part, the FCC Chairman highlighted that
the Committee has been in constant contact with ICESCO officials, noting that
the Committee will ascertain the integrity of the financial statements to enable
the Organization to fully discharge its mission.
In his turn,
the FCC Rapporteur noted the short duration of the meeting, calling for the
automation of the financial and administrative services and the development of
the internal control mechanisms of the Organization.
Afterward,
the Committee reviewed the financial report for the year 2020 and follow-up to the
implementation of FCC’s recommendations for the past year. The Committee also examined
some points included in the financial report.
The
Committee meeting included a presentation on ICESCO’s implemented projects and
programs, and signed partnerships, which enabled the Organization to diversify the
funding sources and carry out programs that generate positive feedback from the
Member States. The meeting also addressed the means and steps that were adopted
to collect the arrears of the Member States’ contributions.
The Committee
concluded its first day by examining and approving the FCC’s draft rules of
procedure, which defines the tasks, competencies and structure of the Committee,
and submitting the proposed amendments. On the second day, the Committee will examine
and discuss the report of the auditing company for the year 2020, in the
presence of the company’s representative, and draft its final report.
The
Science and Technology Sector at the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Organizing Committee of the 9th
World Water Forum held a meeting to discuss and evaluate the action plan and
preparations for organizing the forum, due to be held in the Senegalese capital
Dakar, in March 2022. The meeting explored the activities of the forum and the
mechanisms of communication, promotion and mobilization in the countries of the
Islamic World within the framework of the partnership between ICESCO, the Committee,
and the Ministry of Water and Sanitation in Senegal.
During the
videoconference meeting, held on Thursday, September 16, 2021, Dr. Raheel
Qamar, Head of ICESCO Science and Technology Sector, reaffirmed the Organization’s
keenness on the success of the Forum, and its efforts to mobilize the countries
of the Islamic World to participate in the Forum activities, especially the young
people. He also highlighted the
necessity to build their capacities in using modern science and technology in water
resources management, to achieve food security, and accomplish the Sustainable Development
Goals related to water in the Islamic World and African countries.
He
reviewed ICESCO’s role in promoting initiatives aimed at improving ecosystems
and smart agriculture, in addition to the Organization’s program to improve
water and sanitation services in 1,000 rural schools in several countries in
the Islamic World, including Senegal.
Mr.
Abdallah Seni, the Executive Secretary of the 9th World Water Forum,
commended the cooperation with ICESCO to organize the Forum and confirmed the preparations
progress in terms of mobilizing partners and reaffirming the participation of
more than 1,000 institutions from all over the world. He also expressed his
aspiration to encourage the outstanding presence of the Islamic countries in
the 9th World Water Forum and to enhance the participation of young
people, in particular, to benefit from its activities.
The
meeting was also attended by Dr. Foued El-Ayni and Dr. Ismaila Diallo, two
experts in ICESCO’s Science and Technology Sector, and Dr. Mohamed Diatta,
responsible for the Scientific Sector of the 9th World Water Forum and
other members of the Organizing Committee.
The
Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) congratulates
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on “The Human Capacity Development Program”
that His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Crown
Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, launched. The promising program includes an
action strategy that hinges upon basic pillars consisting in developing a solid
and flexible educational system for all, providing lifelong learning
opportunities, and meeting the future labor market requirements at the national
and international levels.
ICESCO
commends the forward-looking vision of the ambitious program and hails the wise
Saudi leadership and people for this national strategy that aims at enhancing
the local and global competitiveness of citizens by seizing the promising
opportunities of the renewed and growing needs.
The
program has an ambitious action plan, which includes the launch of 89
initiatives to meet the needs and aspirations of all segments of society by
developing human capabilities to provide citizens with the necessary skills and
knowledge to keep up with the various changes in the business world. In this
regard, ICESCO reaffirms its willingness to cooperate with the parties in
charge of the program to share its successes with the other Member States.
ICESCO
reiterates its keenness to cooperate with Member States’ forward-looking
initiatives to build the capacities of young people and share their successes with
other countries.
The
Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO)
participated in the “International Cultural Forum: Central Asia at the
Crossroads of Civilizations”, which was held in Khiva, Uzbekistan, on
September 14-15, 2021, under the patronage of His Excellency the President Shavkat
Mirziyoyev. The Forum aims at exploring and promoting culture and the common heritage
in Central Asia and consolidate their important role in shaping civilizations
in the region and beyond.
Dr. Salim
M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of ICESCO, took part in the closing session
through a video speech, on Wednesday, September 15, 2021. Mr. Ozodbek
Nazarbekov, Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan, moderated the closing session,
which also brought together Assistant DG for the Social and Human Sciences of
UNESCO, ICCROM DG, the Minister of Culture of Azerbaijan, and the Minister of
Culture of Turkey.
In his speech,
ICESCO DG noted the prominent role that the Central Asian region played in
human civilization throughout history. “It was the cradle of many sciences and
arts thanks to its scholars and thinkers, who influenced the ancient and modern
human civilization,” he added.
Dr.
AlMalik highlighted ICESCO’s great interest in investing in the opportunities
of the applications of artificial intelligence and space sciences and
supporting the Member States to keep pace with modern technology. He explained
that the Organization has established an artificial intelligence unit at ICESCO
Heritage Center, which undertakes the tasks of preserving heritage in the
Islamic World. He also called on the ICESCO Member States to submit files to
register their historical sites and cultural elements on the lists of heritage
in the Islamic world, which now includes 326 sites and heritage elements.
ICESCO DG announced
the Organization’s initiative to conduct an extensive study on the impact of
climate change on several sectors, including heritage, with proposals for fully
feasible solutions, to reduce the risks of this phenomenon.
At the close
of his speech, Dr. AlMalik called for developing the existing cooperation
between ICESCO, Uzbekistan, and all the countries of the region in the Organization’s
areas of competence.
Dr. Osama
Al-Nahas and Mr. Bilel Chebbi, experts at Culture and Communication Sector,
represented ICESCO at this forum, which saw the high-level participation of
representatives of many international organizations, in addition to experts and
specialists in the fields of culture, heritage, science, and the arts.
The Science and Technology Sector and the
General Secretariat of the National Commissions at Islamic World Educational,
Scientific, and Cultural Organization held a meeting with the Ugandan National Commission
for UNESCO and ICESCO, and several partners to discuss the implementation plan of
the first phase of ICESCO’s Program for Improving Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
Services (WASH) in 1,000 rural schools in several countries of the Islamic
World, including Uganda, Senegal, Morocco, and Mali.
The videoconference meeting, held on
Tuesday, September 14, 2021, with the participation of the representatives of the
Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports, the Islamic University in Uganda, and
the Action for Social Development and Environmental Protection Organization (ASDEPO),
reviewed the results of the field study that the Ugandan National Commission
conducted for UNESCO and ICESCO. They include proposals on the implementation
stages of the program in the thirty rural schools that have been selected based
on their needs.
The meeting also touched on the potential
budget for the project, financing mechanisms, and the solutions to overcome the
challenges facing rural schools, such as poor water and sanitation facilities.
The meeting explored the inclusion of new partners to support the
implementation of the program.
For her part, the Secretary-General of the
Ugandan National Commission, Ms. Rosie Agoi, expressed her appreciation for ICESCO’s
support for projects aimed at improving water and sanitation services, noting
the outstanding program that the Organization supported at the Islamic
University in Uganda during the COVID-19 pandemic, to promote hygiene and
provide water for handwashing as part of the preventive measures against the pandemic.
Ms. Zainab Iraqi, Supervisor of the General Secretariat of National Commissions and Conferences at ICESCO, Dr. Foued El Ayni, Expert and Project Manager at Science and Technology Sector at ICESCO, and Ms. Jihane El Assimi, from the Financial Affairs Department, pointed out that the success of the first phase of the program, in Uganda and the beneficiary countries, would give impetus to the program in the rest of the Muslim world. They also reaffirmed the Organization’s willingness to support the efforts of its partners in improving water and sanitation services by providing assistance and advice in financial and technical aspects.
Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting with Ms. Esperança
Bias, Chairperson of the Parliament of Mozambique, on the sidelines of their
participation in G-20 Inter-faith Forum, in Bologna, Italy. The meeting touched
upon the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Mozambique in the areas
of common interest.
During the meeting, held on Monday, September
13, 2021, Dr. Al-Malik reviewed the vision and new action strategy of ICESCO, highlighting
the major initiatives and programs launched and implemented during the Covid-19
pandemic to support the efforts of Member States in countering the negative
repercussions of the pandemic, especially on the African continent, which
ICESCO gives a special priority.
He pointed out that the Organization encourages
training and building the capacities of youth and women to fulfill their roles
in achieving sustainable development for their countries.
Ms. Bias commended ICESCO’s roles and
efforts to support its Member States, stressing the importance of building
cooperation between Mozambique and ICESCO in the fields of education, science
and culture.
The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M.
AlMalik met with the Secretary-General of Religions for Peace Dr. Azza Karam,
on the sidelines of the G20 Interfaith Forum 2021 in Bologna, Italy. The
meeting explored prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Religions for
Peace in areas of common interest, primarily civilizational dialogue.
During the meeting, held yesterday,
September 13, 2021, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the most prominent efforts that ICESCO
undertook in the field of promoting the values of coexistence and peace,
including the establishment of the ICESCO Civilizational Dialogue Center, organizing
several international conferences with the participation of intellectual
figures and global religious leaders, implementing many programs and activities
to train young people on leadership for peace and security, and other programs
that accomplish the ICESCO’s new vision.
Dr. Azza Karam valued the roles that ICESCO
played in its fields of competence, stressing the keenness of Religions for
Peace to cooperate closely with the Organization to achieve its common goals.
The two sides agreed to cooperate in
developing training programs, preparing reference materials, outreach and
communication activities for the benefit of young people and women. They also
discussed cooperation implementing the contents of the Encyclopedia on
Deconstructing the Discourse of Extremism in practical and field programs, to
counter attempts of attracting young people and distort religious texts and
sources, in cooperation with the Mohammadia League of Scholars in Morocco and
its executive partners.
Religions for Peace is a global
organization that brings together the largest number of religions and has been
working since its foundation in 1970, to achieve its vision of a world in which
religious communities cooperate in order to achieve peace through taking joint
and concrete actions. The organization is committed to lead efforts to enhance
multi-religious cooperation to achieve peace at the national, regional and
global levels.
